Chad J.

I've always been good at building things. I like to say there's nothing I can't make. When i was a kids I was into art, drawing, some clay work, but my love was wood working. I carved a gladius out of a 2x4 around 14 or 15 but didn't think of actual blacksmithing. When I was 18 or 19 I had a number of knives in my wall locker on LeJune and I remember sitting out on a picnic table saying I'd love to learn how to make a knife some time. Alas I got married, had kids, got out of the Marines after 11 years and I had forgotten about it. Did a bit of ghost hunting back when it was big and one of the team members started trying to make knives. This was when FIF started up. Unlike said friend, I started paying attention to FIF, taking notes, and asking what aren't they showing me? I didn't have the money I thought I needed and definately didn't have the space. After my divorce I started trying to get everything I needed together but had no idea where I could set was set up. We have a cabin north of the Wisconsin Dells where my wood shop was sitting unused and my daughter asked me to build her a coffin bookshelf. As part of that I tried to make some handles. I built my first attempt at a forge from a kettle grill, some bricks that were laying around, downspout, and a leaf blower. Didn't work but I was hooked. From that point I made a propane burner from a turkey cooker, cutting off the end and sticking it in an 8 inch pipe going into a hard fire brick forge and finding myself a better anvil. My gf at the time let me set up in her back yard, then I bought my house with the current shop. I've outgrown FIF for the most part, unless I feel like yelling at my tv, but I have fond memories of it because it started me on the journey in earnest. For fun in adding in the picture of the kettle forge because that was the start.

Ok, I'll get this one finished and do a few more of various sizes.

It's not too late?

Last night I finally was able to get in the shop again. Good thing, I was starting to get a bit twitchy and was threatening random computers at work with hammers. Starting on building up summer inventory for fairs and the makers markets I had stuff. Made a nice little calla lilly as well. Actually best I've made yet. Working small is hard, it was a 3/8 inch round sock.

Final assembly of the kriegsmesser happened. I'm mostly happy, unfortunately the handle is skinnier than I'd like. Not sure how that happened. Anyway here it is. 5160, 42 inch overall, 32 inch blade, weighing in at 4 pounds center of gravity 7 inches from the guard, handle is maple. Guard, nagel, pommel, and pins are all mild steel. The Nagel is peaned in place, as is the pommel. The only epoxy I used was on the wood. Just have to do some finish work.

Because of how busy Christmas is going to be and excitement on my GF's part, I got my Christmas present early. I've got a keeper here...

I really need to learn how to make hawks that way. Usually just. Punch and drift but those are my rr spike hawks. Goods, how much layout work do you do? Still working on my coffin bookshelf but the cold weather and lack of heat in my shop has me distracted when there's a nice warm forge so close by. Add to that I watched one or 2 too many episodes of forged in fire (because I like yelling at the tv) sooooo.... I have a Kriegsmesser well underway. Found a crack in the guard last night but that'll be quick to remake, i had used rebar for it. 31 inch on the blade 42 inch overall at the moment, 1/4 inch at the base going down to 1/8 inch at the false edge, started at 27 inches. No idea of what it weighs currently but it's good ol' 5160. Hoping to get it done in a couple weeks.

I've been running around and haven't had time for much of anything, including keeping up here. I have been working on a non metal commission of a book shelf. It's been so long since I've done any Woodwork it feels kinda good to get back to it. This is revisiting the project that lead to my first attempt and i may still make some handles for it.

That's a great improvised anvil dude! What did you make the horn out of? How did you mount it? That honestly looks like it should have its own how to thread in the improvised anvil section. The hooks are great too, time and practice are the key.

Jim that is a great candle holder. Do you have a coal forge, gas forge or both? In the past I've stated superhuman in one that I have to finish in the other. Working a piece straight until I had to make a large bend that wouldn't let me work in the propane forge type of stuff.

I totaly would if I didn't live in town myself now that you suggest it Jennifer. It'd make a great target holder. I actually already have some arrows stuck in my compost bin from being so out of practice with my bow. My customer does live in the middle of town as well. I doubt this will be the only one I make of these.

Yesterday installed the bottle tree at an ecstatic customer's house. She'd been looking for someone to make one like that for 12 years. The little harbor frieght welder I bought has been totally worth the money.

I've done that a few times now. The set of wings I did recently I did using my torch. I was looking for something that had a bit brighter colors. A couple other smiths at the meeting recommended it.

That is what I meant. Can't remember the brand name but I thought it would be fun to do a rainbow patina finish on some decorative items to sell like my orchids. I'll post a picture of the bottle when I get home

Working on a bottle tree for a commission. Mostly welding and I'm really glad I went and bought that little Flux core welder. I would have been very annoyed with my stock welder doing this.

Bought a few hammers at Centaur Forge during the conference. Nathan from Jackpine forge was demonstrating making tooling. Picked up 2 hammers from him, 1.5 cross pein and 3 lb diagnol. Then the other cross is a 2.5 pound. Also picked up some rainbow patina.

Thanks Wire, yeah I have snapped a couple off in the past. That rubics went easier than I expected really. The cheap little Porta band I got made a big difference

Another ice cream scoop but I went for a rubics twist for the first time. I think it turned it well. I used my portaband, I don't have the patience to use a hacksaw. I also coughed up the cash to have a bunch of debris removed from the barn so now I have a supply storage area to house metal and wood.

Goods, great consistency on your blade designs! My tendancy is too make everything slightly different, though my spike tomahawk heads are a set design now. M3F welcome back, how do you find anything with your shop so clean? Anyway, I have a couple door handles I made for a customer, and the UMBA fall conference is at Centaur Forge on Saturday, the trade item is an ice cream scoop. First time I've had the chance to make a trade item for one of the conferences. I'm kinda happy with it. I have a little filling to do for touch up and get the finish on but I'm happy with it.

Uhhh, all my furniture is covered by fermenting beverages at the moment.

I'm going to revisit the snitch later, might be fun to have as a decorative wall hanger for Harry Potter fans. I did modify the center a bit and made the stand this evening. It was supposed to be fairly simple I may have over done it a bit on the wings but dialed it back on the stand. It is for a father and daughter that have passed. The customer with his daughter looked at my lady slipper orchid and asked if I could make angel wings like that and he wanted to give it to his wife as a 30th anniversary present. It is in honor of her dad and sister. I'm actually clear coating it with the oxidation colors on the wings and the stand wire wheeled clean. Purposely made the stand tear shaped.

I keep getting that. I'm going to change the center section a bit.

Been busy, had a couple of live demos and have been really putting it to that little harbor freight cast steel anvil. It's holding up great btw. Only 2 surface dings, one was from the gf's cousin when he hit it with my 8 pound hand sledge, he didn't know any better and I didn't stop him in time, the other I was using a cross pean aggressively on a larger piece of stock. Anyway I'm currently working in a memorial piece that I was commissioned to do. A pair of angel wings that will go on a stand. Not quite sure what to do in the middle. I'd put initials in it but my engraving is worse than my hand writing. I may have to make a repousse set up for myself.

Yesterday my gf finally got me out to Villa Terrace in Milwaukee to see the pieces there from Cyril Colnik. I wanted to get there, it was just a time issue. The pieces there were amazing. I have probably 60 pictures of different angles if his stuff. Today was back to the shop. Made a new hot cut for the hf anvil and it's the best I've made yet. Successfully forge welded 4 more basket twist ornaments. I think I've got the basic down. I am going to have to start trying some of the other welds. Made a nice towel holder. I made it for paper towels but end user gets to decide. Working on another style of towel holder that's going to have a wooden dowel run through it. I'll get pictures up when I finish that.

Well, my welding helmet was acting up tonight and I had planned on making basket twisted ornaments so I did what I had only done once before, by accident. I attempted to forge weld in my little rivet forge. Got my 4 bars twisted up and didn't get the wire right enough, it fell apart. Second attempt went better, third attempt was quicker yet and then my final set. Really I did 2 welds per ornament so 6 successful forge welds tonight and 0 puddles of melted steel. Brass brushed it and put a little glass piece in the middle for fun.